HELP! I think my eyes just popped out.....pricing Disney for first time in years and years!

[MouseTriper]

Oh I know that feeling! If you opted for Universal, something to consider to get your Disney fix is go to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party one night. You'll get to see the park decorations, the rides, etc. and you only have to buy the ticket for that party, not a theme park day plus party ticket. It's not a cheap ticket, don't get me wrong, but perhaps that gets part of the experiment into the trip you are looking to do.

Oh that is an idea, thank you. I did see that they are still pretty high in cost, but maybe. LOL. I am still in the beginning stages of trying to see what I can afford.

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

It really depends on the time of year. The fall and winter have become busy, crowed and more expensive. For some the better weather is worth the cost. The summer has become slow and far less expensive.

Disneyland and Disney world both have great ticket deals going on now.

I am leaving for Disneyland soon and have 3 day tickets for $250 = $1000
Airbnb that is walkable for a week stay $1000. splitting the week with another family = $500
Air plane tickets were $100 round trip = $400
Car rental =$300.
Total cost for a week Disney vacation for 4 ----- $2200 + food.

I don't know what is used to cost but I think this is a very reasonable cost and am excited to go on it. I originally had the trip booked in OCT but saved over $1500 by switching dates and splitting the airbnb with friends.

 

[MouseTriper]

Oh wow, I had no idea the crowds have kinda changed like that for the different seasons. I always though summer and the holidays were the most expensive.

Your Disneyland trip sounds wonderful!

 

[DanceDisney23]

Thank you. Due to schedules, my dates are not flexible. I am definitely looking for cheaper options. May I ask you what the "well known discount" site is?

Disneyland is not an option for us, unfortunately.

I’m not sure I can post the name here, but I’ll send you a private message.

 

[obsesseddisneyfan]

undercovertourist.com I read that if it does not automatically get blocked out then it's fine. Take the post down if that is not how it works.

 

[DanceDisney23]

undercovertourist.com I read that if it does not automatically get blocked out then it's fine. Take the post down if that is not how it works.

Good to know. I wasn’t sure if we could mention them.

 

[MouseTriper]

I’m not sure I can post the name here, but I’ll send you a private message.

Thank you.

 

[MouseTriper]

It really depends on the time of year. The fall and winter have become busy, crowed and more expensive. For some the better weather is worth the cost. The summer has become slow and far less expensive.

Disneyland and Disney world both have great ticket deals going on now.

I am leaving for Disneyland soon and have 3 day tickets for $250 = $1000
Airbnb that is walkable for a week stay $1000. splitting the week with another family = $500
Air plane tickets were $100 round trip = $400
Car rental =$300.
Total cost for a week Disney vacation for 4 ----- $2200 + food.

I don't know what is used to cost but I think this is a very reasonable cost and am excited to go on it. I originally had the trip booked in OCT but saved over $1500 by switching dates and splitting the airbnb with friends.

Oh wow, I had no idea the crowds have kinda changed like that for the different seasons. I always though summer and the holidays were the most expensive.

Your Disneyland trip sounds wonderful!

 

[MouseTriper]

undercovertourist.com I read that if it does not automatically get blocked out then it's fine. Take the post down if that is not how it works.

Thank you.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Thank you. I am definitely looking into staying offsite now. I would love to eat off site to, however, if I pay that much money for park tickets I do not want to waste time going off site to eat and then heading back to the parks, know what I mean? I have thought about eating pastries or something in the room for breakfast and maybe packing a sandwich and snacks for lunch and then maybe just eating one meal in the parks.

We are going back for Christmas and these are some of the breakfasts I’m planning to provide to cut back on expenses:

Buy quart container of yogurt and fresh fruit salad to add to it.
Boiled eggs
Box of granola which can also be mixed w/ yogurt
1 qt of OJ, 1 qt of passion fruit juice, 1 qt of guava juice, 1 ltr of club soda = approx. 1 gal POG juice spritzer. Great all day long.


Haven’t finished reading this article but what I have looks interesting:

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/save-money-disney-world-vacation/

 

[Jack Kerouac]

I'm not sure if it still works, but we found Sam's Club to offer really affordable tickets compared to other venues, including Disney, and we didn't have to be members. If you have a Costco membership, you can save up to 10% off gift cards if they are offering that deal. Target has Disney gift cards at 5% off all the time. There are savings all around. It's just a matter of whether or not they move the needle for a trip.

 

[reddog21]

The real answer is that many people cannot afford it and they instead rack up credit card debt in order to go to Disney. Obviously not speaking for every single guest but according to recent statistics it does account for a decent chunk of families.

Statistics assume all debt is created equal which it's not. The more realistic stat which no one provides(I don't think) is how long does it take you fo pay off your Disney vacation simply saying someone uses a cc to pay for any vacation means nothing.

 

[BarlowFamily]

Agree that Disney is pricey! We have enjoyed our WDW trips, mixing budget choices with a few splurges. We'll be tent camping at the Fort in early December this year. I know its not for everyone, but it works for us. We also really like the All Stars. Maybe more than the Moderates. We also like the "plus" tickets. That really stretches the fun across a longer time for us. Waterparks, foot golf, and mini golf mixed in with full park days. Hotel, tickets and food are the major costs for us. So after getting hotel and tickets squared away, I decide a reasonable food budget for our family and make choices based off that.

Another idea is Branson, MO. It will be cold in early December but still so fun! Silver Dollar City is decked out for Christmas and there's a variety of shows around town, somerging for everyone. That might be an option for your family.

 

[disneyseniors]

Oh that is an idea, thank you. I did see that they are still pretty high in cost, but maybe. LOL. I am still in the beginning stages of trying to see what I can afford.

Hi Mousetriper: I feel your pain on trying to make plans for such an expensive visit. You mentioned staying at Universal and going to disney for that one event? I believe someone mentioned it. Universal is expensive too. It is Not a cheap place to stay. However, their value resorts (especially Cabana Bay) are really nice and on par with a moderate at disney. But tickets and express pass can add up pretty quickly.
I would recommend staying off site or at one of the sister resorts where you can walk to Epcot and go to the parks from there.
I don't think there is an inexpensive solution at this time for Disney or Universal. It's something we all struggle with and must decide if the cost is worth the experience, IMO. Hope something works out for you and your family

 

[StarCruzer]

Holy cow! How do families afford to stay and play at Walt Disney World these days? I just looked up package rates for me and my two kids (ages 20 and 16) for early December and I am shocked. The hotel rates seem so outrageous and so do the park tickets!!! And then the food prices, looking at some menus and I was like "yikes". I am generally curious how the average person affords such a trip. After more than a few years of unimaginable stress, I was hoping my kids and I could escape reality and find some magic at WDW. However, this is not looking very promising. It is sad and disheartening.

It is definitely a steep cost curve at this point. I would say that there a a few ways to mitigate cost:

• Work with a reputable Disney Vacation planner. The good ones will actively hunt and apply discounts to your package
• If you're looking at staying on property, plan as far in advance if you can. It gives you longer to pay of the vacation, and there's better availability for some of the lower-priced resorts.
• Compare ticket prices on packages vs purchasing tickers from 3rd parties, such as UndercoverTourist
• If you want to stay at a Deluxe resort, renting DVC points is a great option (we're military, and we found point rental is still a better deal)
• Many folk are able to cut down on the "Disney tax" through purchasing discounted gift cards (easiest is the Target Circle card 5%).

We are able to afford Disney because: we invested in DVC resale (this is only a good option for folks who know they want to visit Disney deluxe resorts every 2 years or so) and we're a military family, so we're able to get heavily discounted tickets.

 

[LynnTH]

Also look at Swan/Dolphin, they sometimes have discounted rates. Technically not Disney but on Disney property in the Boardwalk Area. Plus they get the same perks as the Disney Deluxe Hotels. Location can't be beat. Have stayed here many times.

We always eat something in the room for breakfast and then in the parks. The one expense you really can't change is the Park Ticket Pricing (maybe by a few dollars) - everything else depends on your budget.

 

[Brian Noble]

we made a quick trip to Dollywood after moving to MI. I think it was like a 6 hour drive. The kids loved it, I enjoyed it okay, but I am not a huge rollercoaster type of person.

Smoky Mountain Christmas has some of the better shows/performances Dollywood does any time of year. You could have a great time without getting in a single ride. The decorations are also fantastic.

Note that it is a Christmas festival. It is not a Winter festival or even a Holiday Season festival. It is unabashedly Christmas. If Christmas is an important religious holiday to you the Dollywood festival is hard to beat. If you come from another faith tradition and/or are agnostic it might not sit as well.

Full disclosure: I’m a spiritual-but-not-religious person and I had a great time. I am also a roller coaster person and that might have influenced things. If your family hikes that can be a pretty time to be in GSMNP, because there is often a dusting of snow at elevation. When I go to the area I usually hike during the day and go to the theme park at night. Lodging during that time of year should be cheap unless you are bleeding into Christmas week itself.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Universal is expensive too. It is Not a cheap place to stay. ...
But tickets and express pass can add up pretty quickly.
...
I don't think there is an inexpensive solution at this time for Disney or Universal.

I disagree with this.

My Seasonal Annual Pass cost $450 including tax. The AP rate at the Endless Summer resorts is $86 for weeknights. That is in fact inexpensive. Plus I can walk to offsite dining from Endless Summer.

Everyone (not just you, I see it most of the time when people compare) wants to compare Universal prices vs Disney, then says that Universal tickets are more expensive when you add the express pass. Well, yeah! Express pass is optional and expensive. If it's out of the budget, don't get express passes. Go early, stay late, add a day, keep an eye on wait times, use single rider lines, etc. How much more does it add to your Disney ticket to get LL & SingleLL daily?

 

[Nabas]

Disney has never been an affordable vacation it requires planning and saving.

Pick the metric you like…

Adjusted for inflation, minimum wage, median household income, etc. a trip to WDW costs about two to four times more than it did in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

Disney has increased prices faster than pretty much any income index.

Disney has never been cheap but it used to be much more affordable.

 

[Nabas]

I disagree with this.

My Seasonal Annual Pass cost $450 including tax. The AP rate at the Endless Summer resorts is $86 for weeknights. That is in fact inexpensive. Plus I can walk to offsite dining from Endless Summer.

Everyone (not just you, I see it most of the time when people compare) wants to compare Universal prices vs Disney, then says that Universal tickets are more expensive when you add the express pass. Well, yeah! Express pass is optional and expensive. If it's out of the budget, don't get express passes. Go early, stay late, add a day, keep an eye on wait times, use single rider lines, etc. How much more does it add to your Disney ticket to get LL & SingleLL daily?

If you get an annual pass and are flexible with your dates, a stay at Universal’s Endless Summer hotels can be downright cheap. I’ve seen hotel rates lower than the $86 per night you mention.

But most people don’t have that kind of flexibility and end up having to go during the more expensive times of the year.